Yamuna e-way farmers up the ante, warn realtors

Farmers of villages located along the Greater Noida-Agra Yamuna Expressway yesterday held panchayats and issued warnings to builders to stop work. Warnings were also issued to stop work on F1 track, sports city.

Farmers of villages located along the Greater Noida-Agra Yamuna Expressway on Monday held panchayats and issued warnings to builders to stop work. Warnings were also issued to stop work on F1 track, sports city.

A total of 11 builders have planned 1 lakh houses along the Expressway. In the initial stage, they are building 20,000 units.

Farmers say their legal teams had reached Allahabad for filing petitions against land acquisition. “No work will be allowed till the matter is settled by court,” said the farmers.

“Some farmers moved court on Monday. We are awaiting court directions,” said Ajaypal Sharma, farmer leader.

“On Tuesday, a panchayat of 10 villages will be held at Jewar. We are widening the agitation till Agra. Aligarh farmers along the Expressway have joined us. Mathura and Agra farmers too are planning protest panchayats,” said Virendra Dhada, farmer leader.

Farmers from more than 30 villages, located along the toll road, on Sunday held a mahapanchayat at Atta Gujran and decided to move court against land acquisition and stall real estate projects.

“We are not protesting the construction of the Expressway. Our protest is against projects such as Formula 1 racing track, Sports City, and residential towers being built by 11 builders,” farmers said.

Jaypee has obtained land in return for developing the road link. Other developers include Supertech, 3C’s, Earth Infra-structure, Amrapali, Gaursons, Panchsheel and Ajnara.

Meanwhile, farmers stopped the work of an under-construction sewage treatment plant at Kasna. They were demanding hike in compensation. Their land was acquired in 1997 the under urgency clause.